Improvement in music-leaf turners



BESTAVAILABLE COPY G. L. BAYRD & S. PA UL. Music-Leaf Turner.'

N.PEYER$. PHOTWUTNOGRAPKER, WASMNGTON. n. C

BEST AVAlLABLE COPi UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIeE.

CHARLES L. BAYl'i-D, OF \YAKEFIELD, AND SIMOX PAUL, OF \VALTHAM, NASSAU H USETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Specification forming purl of Letters Patent Xo. 205,826, dated July 9, 1875; application filed January 723, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, UnAnLus L. BA run, of Wakefield, in the county of Middle-sex, and

SIMON PAUL, of valtham, in the county of applied to the music-rack of a piano. Fi 2 represents a front view of the same. Fig. 1) represents a rear view of the same. Fig. 4. represents a section on line ca', Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 3/ y, 1. Fi 6 represents a perspective view of the escape ment. Fig. 7 represents a section on line 212', Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a section on line 2 .2, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference refer to like pa rt in all the figures.

In the drawing, A represents the rack or support, which is preferably made of wood, in the shape of a lyre, or in any suitable design. This rack is provided with three general attachments-via, leaf turning mechanism, adapted to turn sheets or leaves of music placed upon the rack; leaf holding or clamping mechanism, adapted to secure the sheets or leaves to the rack; and devices whereby the rack may be attached to the permanent music-rack B of a piano.

The leaf-turning mechanism is composed of the following elements, viz: First, a stationary bearing-pin, (l, suitably attached to the upper end of the rack A, and projecting upwardly therefrom; second, a series of hubs or base-pieces, D, which are journaled on the bearing-pin C so as to revolve thereon, each carrying apivoted turning-finger, D and a spring, D adapted to impel or rotate the hub and its fingerin the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2, 3, and 5; third, a sliding stop-pin, E, adapted to hold the base-pieces D and their fingers 1') against the force of the springs D and to release said hubs and fingers iinlependently; fourth, a spring, F, whereby the pin E is automatically depressed; and, fifth, an eseapement, Gr, under the control of the operator, adapted to regulate the automatic depression of the pin E in such manner to cause the latter to release the base-pieces and their fingers D one at a time, the stop-pin being provided with ratchet-teeth, E. The bearing-pin C is preferably secured into a ti an ged bracket or castin g, II, which is attached to the upper end of the rack A.

The hubs or base-pieces I) are each composed of a circular portion, having a central oriliee to receive the pin 0; an annular chamber, surrounding the pin 0 and containing the coiled spring 1); two bearings, d d, for the turning-finger D; and an arm or abutment, l), to bear againstthe stop-pin E before the base-pieces and turning-fingers are released by said stop-pin.

The spring 1) is attached at one end to the hub or base-piece 1) and at its other end to a collar, 0, which is keyed to the bearing-pin. Any desired number of base-pieces may be employed, and the series are held downwardly by a plate or washer, I, a nut, J, and an interposed spring, K, applied to the upper end of the bearingpin, which is threaded.

Each turning-finger 1) is composed preferably of an angular or curved wire, arranged to extend horizontally through the bearings of its base-piece or huh I), and project downwardly at its outer end over the outer surface of the rack A, to be interposed between the sheets or leaves of music.

The fingers D are adapted to vibrate in their hearings, so that they can swing outwardly from the surface of the rack A when arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, (this being the position they occupy before being released by the stop-pin 19;) but as it is necessary that they shall not swing in the opposite direction when. in the act of turning the leaves, I provide each finger with a stopping device adapted to prevent it from turning baekwardly, but allowing it to swing out- BEST AVAlLABLE cos wardly when in the position shown, such device consisting, in the present instance, of a pin or screw, K, entering; one of the bcarin gs of the finger, and projecting into a. recess or scarf cut in the finger, the pin or screw K having a pointed end, and serving at once to prevent the backward swinging or rotation of the finger and the longitudinal movement of the same in its bearings.

- is equal to the length of movement of the pin E required to release one of the base-pieces D.

The escapement G is composed of a rockshaft, m, journaled in bearings attached to the back of the rack A; a double pawl, composed of two arms or points, at a, rigidly attached to said rock-shaft; a spring, 0, applied to the shaft, to hold the arm a of the double pawl in yielding contact with the ratchetteeth Ejand a lever, 11, rigidly attached to 'the rock-shaft, and held away from the rack A by the spring 0, and connected, by a cord or otherwise, with a treadle or other means formoving said arm against the force of the spring 0.

When the stop-pin E is elevated and held by. the arm n of the double pawl, a downward movement of the lever 11 will move the arm a away from the pin E, and at the same time move the arm it into contact with said pin. The space between the points of 'the arms a n is such that this operation causes thepin E to be released by the arm a and forced downwardly by its spring about half the length of one of the ratchet-teeth,

when it will be caught and supported by the engagement of the arm a with a tooth below the one released. Then, the lever 12 being released, the spring 0 will remove the arm a from contact with the pin E, thus releasing the same, and at the same time forcing the arm a into contact with said pin, and causing the arm a to arrest the nexttooth above and again support the pin 1*], the two movements thus efi'ected being equal to the length of one of the ratchet-teeth, and hence resulting in the release of one of the base-pieces D and fingers D.

The leaf holding or clamping mechanism is composed of two clamps, 0 0, one located at the top and the other at or near the bottom ofthe rack A, on the front side thereof.

The upper clamp O is composed of a finger,

' preferably attached to an arm, I, which is pivoted at p to the upper end of the rack A, and is adapted to be held in contact with the front surface of the rack by a latch or hook, Q.

By disconnecting the arm P from the latch Q, the clamp 0 may be removed from the surface of the rack A.

The lower clamp O is preferably composed of a finger rigidly attached to a shaft, R, which is journaled in bearings on a bracket or plate, S, and is provided with a spring, T, which forces the finger 0 toward the surface of the rack A, and witha handle, U, by which to turn the finger O away from the rack A. The bracket or plate S is extended on each side, to form a shelf or support for the lower ends of the leaves or sheets of music which are placed against the rack A, and are then secured by bringing the clamps O O to bear upon them.

I prefer to make the bracket S and el amp 0' adjustable vertically, and to this end provide the rack A with avertical groove or guide, V, and adapt the bracket to slide in this guide, the bracket being provided with a projecting lug, which lies in the guide.

\V represents a screw, having an enlarged head, which lies in the inner portion of the guide V, the latter being T-shaped in crosssection. This screw passes through the bracket S, and is provided with a nut, X. By screwing down the nut X the head of the screw WV will be clamped against the lip or flange which surrounds the guide V, and thus the bracket S will be firmly held.

. It will be seen that by the described arran gement sheets or leaves of different lengths can be applied and secured to the rack A.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction of the clamps, as they may be varied as desired.

I provide the bracket S with a yielding pivoted .finger, Y, of wire, adapted to bear against the leaves or sheets of music with a yielding pressure, and prevent the leaf following the one being turned from being carried over accidentally, said finger bearing against the outer surface of the outer unturned leat' that is to say, the leaf at the right of the opcrator-and being arranged to yield when the leaf against which it bears is turned by its turning-finger, and to regain its position and bear against the succeeding leaf, to prevent the latter from being turned by the atmospheric pressure induced by the turning of the preceding leaf.

The devices for attaching the rac; A and its attachments to the permanent music-rack of a piano consist, preferably, of two clamps, X, each composed of a bearing-piece or support, 0, rigidly attached to the back side of the rack A, a jaw, f, pivoted to said bearingpiece, and provided with lugs g g, and a jaw, f, pivoted to the lugs g, and provided with a screw, 1', which bears against the jaw f, as shown in Fig. 1. WVhen the clamps are applied to the permanent rack B of the piano, they are caused to grasp the same tightly by turning the screws i.

The rack is provided with feet j j, which are preferably coated with some soft material, as also the jaws ff, and these feet rest against BEST AVAlLABLE cos the ledge of the piano above the key-board, as shown in Fig. 1.

Operation: The rack A being secured to the piano, the operator clam'ps the music he gives a slight movement to the lever 11, the result being a depression of the pin E Sllfficicnt to release one base'pieee I), the spring of which forces it, with its finger I), over toward the left of the operator until the finger I) strikes a stop, K, which is preferably located on the upper end of the rack A, as shown in Fig. 2. This motion of the finger, turningtheleaf at every repetition of the movement of the lever p, releases base-piece and finger until all are released.

\Vhen the stop-pin E has been entirely depressed, it is raised by a lever, 11, pivoted to the back side of the rack A.

It will be seen that the clamps X for attaching the rack A to the music-rack of a. piano, being hinged to the rack A, enable the same to be inclined at different angles, so that. the music can be held at any desired angle or inclination, and the rack A can be accommodated to the distance between the top of the music-rack of the piano and the ledge on which the fectj rest, be such distance greater or less.

\Ve claim as our invention- 1. In a musicleaf turner, the combination of a stationary bearing-pin, a series of hubs or base-pieces journaled thereon, each carrying a pivoted finger arranged to turn in its bearing, a series of springs whereby thehubs and fingers are independently impelled, a stoppin whereby one or all of thehubs and fingers are held in position to turn the music-leaves when released, and mechanism, substantially as described, actuating the stop-pin to inde pendent] y release the hubs and turning-fin gers, as set forth.

2. In a musieleaf turner employingaseries of spri l1 g-im pelled hubs, D, journaled on a stationary bearing-pin, C, at the upper end of a rack or support, A, and a series of pivoted fingers, I), depending from said hubs, the combination, with said hubs and turning-fingers, of a ratcheted stop-pin, E, located on the rack or support, impelled downwardly by a spring, F, and regulated in its descent by an escapement, Gr, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the rack or support A, provided with leafturning mechanism, substantially as described, located at its upper end, the clamp 0, also located at the upper end of the rack or support, and the vertitically-adjustable clamp 0, located below the clamp O, substantialL as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the rack or supp A, having the slot or guide V, the adjustable shelf or bracket S, arranged to be held and guided in the slot, and provided with aelamp, O, for holding the sheets or leaves of music, and suitable locking devices, whereby the shelf or bracket is held at any desired height, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the shelf or bracket S, the shaft R, having the clamping-finger 0, spring T, and lever V, as set forth.

6. In combination with a music-leaf turner having spring-impelled turning-fingers, the spring finger or detent Y, arranged to bear against the outer surface of an unturned leaf with a yielding pressure, said finger being adapted to yield to allow the leaf to turn when its turning-finger is released, and to regain its position to prevent the turning of the sm-ceeding-leat', as set forth. 7

7. The combination of the sprilug-impelled hubs or base-pieces I), provided with bearings (I d, the angular depending fingers 1), arranged to vibrate in said bearings, and stops K, whereby the vibration of said turning-fingers in one direction is limited, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination of the chambered hubs .or base-pieces l), constructed as described,

the coiled springs D the bearingpin U, and the sliding stop-pin I), as set forth.

9. The stop-pin E, having ratchet-teeth E, and adapted to be autonmtically depressed by a spring, 1 combined with the hubs or basepieces I), and the springescapement (l, substantially as described.

10. In combination with the stop-pin E, the lever 1!, whereby said pin is elevated, as set forth.

11. In con'ibination with the rack or support A, the clamps X. X, pivoted to the back of said rack, and arranged to grasp the musicrack of a piano, whereby the rack or support is enabled to be inclined at dilierentan gles, as setforth.

1;. The escapement G, consisting of the rock-shaft m, pawls a a, spring 0, and lever 1), combined with the downwardly-impelled ratcheted pin E, substantiallyas described.

13. In combination with the rack or support, the clamps X, each composed of the following elements, to wit: a bearing-piece, c, rigidly attached to the rack or support A; a jaw, f, pivoted to said bearing-piece and provided with lugs g g; and ajaw, f, pivoted to said lugs and provided with a screw, i, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

CHARLES I). iAYltl). SIMON PAUL.

'itnesses:

GEO. W. Prunes, (J. 1 Enown. 

